Global “One Billion Rising” Movement Comes to Gettysburg

The Gettysburg College Women’s Center (Photo courtesy of Gettysburg College)

By Emma Padrick, Staff Writer

It is no secret that the last several months have been marked by celebrities wearing black attire, musical artists wearing white roses, and people from many industries sharing stories of sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of renowned global figures. All of these trends are part of the global #MeToo movement, which has resulted in powerful celebrities, politicians, and medical professionals outed and dethroned as waves of accusations sweep every arena and workplace.

According to the One Billion Rising foundation’s website, “One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history. The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.”

Led by the two senior Women’s Center co-coordinators Jenny Enos and Caroline Lewis, Gettysburg’s event featured students participating in a conversation about the #MeToo movement and discussing how the recent onslaught of allegations against powerful figures in the entertainment, medical, and political spheres may develop.

Many in attendance shared personal opinions or experiences of their own with the oppression of women that stems from systemic power differences both here on campus and outside of Gettysburg.

The letter also acknowledges that the writers have a powerful platform from which to speak, which is not the case for many. Students largely agreed with the letter, expressing concern over those who are unable to speak out against their harassers for fear of losing their jobs or even their status in this country.

One prominent takeaway from the discussion was the importance of continuing to fight harassment and maintaining the momentum of the #MeToo movement.

“I want to be part of a world where women are able to fight back,” said Aisha Royer ’21. “The #MeToo movement is making that happen.”